Rhys Millen Back to PPIHC in a Bentley

Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Superstar Rhys Millen returns for the 2018 Race to the Clouds in a Bentley Bentayga

Colorado Springs—Rhys Millen, one of the most celebrated drivers in the history of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, will be back at the start line for the 96th edition of the world famous race on June 24.

Millen will be behind the wheel of a 2017 Bentley Bentayga in the Pikes Peak Challenge Exhibition Class with five other drivers who will tackle the rugged course to the summit of 14,115-foot peak of America’s Mountain.

The two-time King of the Mountain has chalked up five overall titles, and multiple class wins on the mountain, beginning with his 1992 crown in the Pikes Peak Open Class, piloting a Mazda on his way to Rookie of the Year honors. He took the title last year in the rugged Time Attack 1 Class, driving his 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe and clocking 9:47.427.

Photo courtesy of Bentley

Millen made history in 2016, winning the Electric Modified crown in a ‘16 eO PP100, with a time of 8:57.118, joining Sebastien Loeb and Romain Dumas as the only three competitors to finish the course in under nine minutes.

The race-ready Bentayga, featuring an unmodified 600 bhp, 900 Nm (664 lb.ft) Bentley W12 engine, has been prepared by a special team in Bentley’s motorsport department in the UK.

The car has been built as close to production standard as possible, with minimal changes in accordance with PPIHC Production Class rules.

A full roll cage, on-board fire suppression system, racing seats and harnesses will support Millen’s assault on the mountain. Production tires will be supplied by Pirelli, and the auto will run with a custom exhaust system from Akrapovic, which also produced the bespoke exhaust for the Bentley Continental GT3-R motorsport-inspired model. In every other respect, including the air suspension with 48V electric active anti-roll control, the car will mirror the unmodified production Bentayga, the fastest SUV ever built.

“The opportunity to race with Bentley at Pikes Peak is one that I couldn’t pass up,” said Millen. “I visited the Bentley factory in Crewe, England, last month and was amazed at the level of skill that goes in to handcrafting these cars. I also had the chance to drive the race-prepared car for the first time and was blown away by the performance that’s already available. I’m really looking forward to preparing for the race, competing on the mountain with Bentley and hopefully establishing a new SUV marker.”